Shock-absorbing device for vehicles



:- Dec. 31, 1929. F. OCONNOR 1,742,003

SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 15, 1926 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 1 f i 1 I g V Uni fares Paran- OFFlCE JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER, INQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SHOGK-ABSORBING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 141,255.

This invention relates to shock absorbing suitable shackles 1313. The central pordevices for vehicles. tion of the spring assembly is connected to the An object of the invention is to provide axle housing 14 by means of clamping bolts shock absorbing mechanism more particular- 15l5 which extend through suitable flanges 1y adapted for use in connection with heavy on the axle housing 1% and through a convehicles of the bus type, and wherein means necting plate 16 arranged along the under are provided which are interposed between surfacoothe spring assembly. L

the usual springs which support the vehicle Secured to the axlehousing 14:, by means of body and the vehicle body, and so arranged bolts 11 l? is a plate 18 which is provided that the shock absorbing mechanism cooperwith an apertured off-set 19 providing an an 60 ates with the springs to retard the movement nular shoulder beneath which is disposed the thereof in opposite directions so as to limit head 20 of an actuating element or plunger 21 travel and at the same time aid the springs in of the mechanism. The plunger 21 as shown absorbing the shocks. is rectangular in cross section, and the upper M Another object of the invention is to proportion 22 of said plunger tapers from a suit- 65 vide a construction of the character above able point adjacent the head of the plunger referred to in which a casing is afiixed'to the toward the free end thereof, said plunger bevehicle body and a tapered plunger secured ing arranged to extend through a casing 23 to the axle housing, said casing including mounted upon the frame member 10 of the yieldably cushioned elements which co-opervehicle. 70 ate with the plunger so as to exert a combined The casing or housing 28 is provided with cushioning and frictional effect thereupon front and rear walls 24 and 25, the rear wall when the axle housing and springs carried having extensions thereonproviding flanges thereby move with reference to the vehicle 2626 through which are extended rivets body. 272? which secure the housing to the web 75 a 45 As shown in the drawings, a fragment of walls 39-459, between which are formed op- 9 Other and further objects of the invention of the frame member 10, the casing also inwill more clearly appear from the descripeludes side walls 2828 and a top wall 29, tion and claims hereinafter following. the latter beingprovided with a central open- In the drawings forming part of this speciing 30, to permit passage of the plunger 21,

30 fication, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fragand being also provided with apertures so ment of a vehicle side frame or chassis, with 31-?81, one of which is disposed at each side the usual rear axle housing and spring asof the central aperture 30, for apurpose pressembly for supporting the vehicle body, and ently to be described. The lower ends of the showing my invention applied thereto. Figside walls 2828 are provided with flanges 5 ure 2 is vertical transverse sectional view, 32-32 to which is detachably secured the bot- S partly in elevation, substantially on the line tom wall 33 by means of bolts 3 1-34. The

2-2 of Figure 3. Figure 3 is ahorizontal secbottom wall 33 is provided with a central tional view of the invention substantially on aperture 35 to permit passage of the plunger the line 33 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a hori- 21, thebottom plate33 being provided with zontal sectional view of the invention correapertures 36.36, one of which is disposed at so sponding substantially to line 4:% of Figure each side of the central aperture 35.

2: And Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed per- Mounted in the casing are upper and lower spective view of one of the wedge members wedge castings 37 and 38. Referring to the used in connection with the invention. lower casting 38, the same comprises side the chassis or frame member of the vehicle is positely inclined spaced wedge surfaces indicated at 10', said frame being off-set as inelk-4:0, which diverge from the bottom todicated at 11 The oft-set 11 is spanned by ward the top of the casting, each side wall 39 the usual spring assembly 12, the ends of having an extension 890 to provide astop. At

a 50, which are secured tothe frame member 10 by the outer sides of the wedge surfacesfloee-tO 1 there are provided bottom walls or bearing portions 41-41, each of which is provided with a guide stem 42, adapted to project through the related a )erture 36 in the bottom wall of the casing. isposed about each of the stems 42 is a coiled spring 43 the upper end of which bears upon the related portion 41 of the wedge casting and the lower end of which bears against the bottom wall 33 of the casing. The upper wedge casting 37, and the associated parts are identical in construction to the wedge casting 38, except for its opposite disposition, and similar reference characters will be utilized to designate similar parts of the castings 37 and 38, the stems upon the casting 37 extending through the apertures 31 in the top wall 29 of the casing. Mounted in the casing, at each side of the plunger 21 is a frictionshoe 44, said shoes being identically similar in construction except for their 0pposite disposition, and each of the same includes a vertical tapered wedge face 45 adapted to frietionally engage the adjacent surface of the tapered plunger 21, and each shoe also includes oppositely inclined wedge faces 46-46 which bear against the wedge faces 40 of the upper and lower wedge castings 37 and 38.

In operation, assuming relative movement of the spring assembly 12 toward the frame member 10, this movement will effect upward reciprocation of the plunger 21 with respect to the housing 23, and due to the upwardly converging surfaces of the plunger 21, upward movement thereof will displace the friction shoes 44 laterally with reference to the plunger and the housing 23, developing frietional resistance between the engaging surfaces of the plunger 21 and of the shoes 4444. Lateral movement of the shoes 4444 in opposite directions brings about movement of the upper and lower castings 37 and 38 at an angle to the movement of the shoes 4444, which movement is resisted by the coiled springs 43-43, frictional resistance being developed between the upper friction surfaces of both shoes and the friction surfaces of the wedge casting 37, while frictional resistance is also developed between the friction surfaces at the lower portions of each friction shoe and the adjacent friction sur faces of the wedge casting 38, the wedge castings 37 and 38 being guided in their movement by the guide stems 4242 extending through the walls of the housing 23. Upon relative movement of the spring assen'ibly 12 and frame member 10 apart, or in a direction opposite to that just above described, the plunger 21 is withdrawn from the housing 23 permitting approach of the friction shoes 44-44 and of the wedge castings 37 and 38, the latter being returned to position under the influence of the springs 4343, and during this action the friction surfaces provided by the shoes, sides of the plunger 21, and

theupper and lower friction surfaces of the shoes 44 and of the wedge castings 37 and 38, develop resistance against withdrawal of the plunger and retard separation of the spring assembly 12 and the frame member 10.

While I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner in carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism for vehicles, the combination with relatively movable members carried by the vehicle body structure and supporting spring, respectively; of friction elements carried by one of said members; and an actuating element carried by the other of said members and movable between said friction elements and in frictional contact therewith; and yielding means having wedging engagement with said friction elements for forcing the same against the actuating element.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with the body member of a vehicle and a spring member for supporting said body member; a plunger mounted upon one of said members; spaced wedge members carried by the other of said members and movable in a direction common with the direction of movement of said plunger, each of said wedge members being provided with oppositely extending wedge surfaces; means normally urging said wedge members toward each other; and friction shoes interposed between said wedge members, said friction shoes each having a friction surface bearing upon the wedge surfaces of one of said wedge members; and means for effecting movement of said friction shoes at an angle to the movement of said wedge members dependent upon relative movement between said plunger and said friction elements.

3. In a shock absorbing mechanism for automobiles, the combination with a frame member and a spring member; of a housing secured to said frame member and provided with top and bottom walls, each having a centrally disposed opening therein, and an aperture at each side of said central opening; of a plunger secured to the other of said members and adapted to move relatively to said housing through the central openings in the top and bottom walls of said housing, said plunger being tapered in a direction toward said housing; wedge castings disposed in said housing and arranged adjacent the upper and lower walls thereof, each of said castings having guide stems thereon extending through the apertures in the adjacent wall, each of said castings being provided with spaced wedge surfaces diverging in a direction toward each other, coiled springs disposed about the stems of each of said castings and interposed between the latter and the adjacent Wall of said housing; and friction shoes provided with tapered friction surfaces engaging said plunger, and each of said shoes having adjacent friction surfaces disposedin contact with the adjacent spaced friction surfaces of one of said Wedge castings.

4. As an article of manufacture, a Wedge.

casting comprising side walls between which aredisposed spaced Wedge surfaces extending in opposite directions, said casting having bearing portions at opposite sides thereof arranged at points remote from the engaging portions of said friction surfaces, each of said bearing members having a guide stem extending outwardly therefrom.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of October, 1926.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

